A Geography of Endurance Day 3
A Stone-Heavy No
There is a lived-in beauty
to the Southern cluttered aesthetic—
a jubilant junkyard
of concrete, rust, and memory.
The collector treasures sentiment over symmetry,
letting patina bloom on every surface.
They trade the neighbor’s polite nod
for the heart’s eccentric drum,
rejecting the sterile hush
of a manicured lawn.
A clean yard is a grave for memory.
Emptiness is not order—
It’s a quiet, clinical erasure,
theft of every story they’ve hoarded.
So they gather silent witnesses—
stone companions that never forget the years.
In this crowded silence,
the past is anchored in red clay,
refusing to be pulled loose.
To tidy is to snap the tethers.
The mossy birdbath, the rusted gate—
they are a stone-heavy
NO
to a world that forgot how to wait.
26 thoughts on "A Geography of Endurance Day 3"
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I love a series and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Keep going please, these are cool.
Thank you Coleman! There is indeed more.
Glad to see A Geography of Endurance Day 3. Been looking for it,
Wowsers: A clean yard is a grave for memory.
Emptiness is not order—
It’s a quiet, clinical erasure,
theft of every story they’ve hoarded.
Pam, I am honored you were on the lookout, thanks!
This brought to mind memories of my dad tending to our yard, building little statuaries and pathways of stone, adding bits of whimsy here and there… you definitely do portray a truth with that line “a clean yard is a grave for memory.”
That’s a very heartwarming memory, and I’m glad I could evoke it.
This series is very intriguing with great metaphors and imagery.
Thank you Linda, that means a lot.
This piem is bith tender and haunting. The weight of the memories coupled with objects is amazing.
“The collector treasures sentiment over symmetry,
letting patina bloom on every surface.”
Yes!
It is haunting now that you mention it, thanks!
a bit like Southern shabby chic
Perfect comparison!
Love it, last lines especially. A stone-heavy NO. Perfect.
I’m glad the all caps worked well. It was a last second decision.
“A clean yard is a grave for memory.
Emptiness is not order—
It’s a quiet, clinical erasure,
theft of every story they’ve hoarded.”
Yep, I have felt that way watching how others obsess over appearance.
I’m glad that resonated with you Lee, thank you for reading!
You have painted a different picture of a junkyard. Well-done.
lol thanks John!
Dang, Jeremy! You have found a new and higher gear in your poetry—you’re easily the most-improved poet on this site. Well done!
Thank you Kevin, that means a lot to me. Yes, I finally feel like I have my voice.
Treasuring our memories Yes
Thanks for reading Pat!
Jeremy – This is your best poem yet! Weaving love and tradition through all those “jubilant junkyards.”
A clean yard is a grave for memory.
Emptiness is not order—
It’s a quiet, clinical erasure,
theft of every story they’ve hoarded. – can’t get better than that!
Thank you, Sylvia! I’ve been very flattered with the feedback this year.
I had a feeling where this poem was going from the first line.
“There is a lived-in beauty”
You did not disappoint!
Your Geography of Endurance series is filled with so many insights and descriptions—I’ve enjoyed the jubilant junkyard of images.